RS4 on 18-inch wheels

[j964]

Hello, everyone.

I have an RS4 saloon on order, but am troubled by wheel choice.

I don't imagine I will spend more than 5-10% of the time driving the nuts off it. I've a long history with sports cars and generally run two or three cars at one time, currently the 'other' car will be a 1990 911 C2 I've owned since 1994.

I actually opted for the RS4 because, after spending all my driving life (a long time!) in sports cars and small cars, I wanted something that will be something of an uber-car. Capable of providing whatever type of driving I require, from Nordschleife to Tesco.

I fancy hooning around in something bigger for a change, something that will offer a blend of abilities, including relaxed, fuss-free cruising and which will be more capable of swallowing speed humps, long motorway runs, etc. Anyway, suffice to say I WILL be extending the Audi at suitable opportunities but it will also be my day to day car and will be ferrying me, my disabled wife and my dog around.

SO - I have provisionally specified the 18" wheels, for a better ride (and cheaper tyres - I do tend to eat tyres rapidly) and, not least, because I loathe cleaning wheels and the 19s look swines to clean.

Anyone running eigteen-inchers have any relevant comments to make? Has anyone actualy compared the two? Plus, has anyone got some decent pics of an RS4 sitting on the 18s?

Ta.

[mjh123]

I suspect that what you may save on the cost of replacement tyres, you may lose on the resale value.
I think I'd recommend you swap for the 19" wheels unless you intend keeping the car for many, many years.

BTW The ride comfort is very good (surprisingly so) on the 19" wheels and cleaning them not that difficult, and they do look great!

[j964]

All valid points. I do worry about 'spoiling' a great car by compromising the wheels. Anyone else like to comment, esp. on how good the ride is on the 19s?

Anyone in Cheshire care to take me for a bit of a ride around the local roads?

[s4woody]

dnt RS4,s have 18's as standard??

[mjh123]

One downside about the 19" wheels is that you've got to be soooo careful with them.
Ordinary kerbs suddenly become 10" high!

[mjh123]

dnt RS4,s have 18's as standard??

Think in the UK the 19" rims are standard but the 18's are a no cost option.

[kam100]

19" wheels look superb, are easy to clean, and i can't comment on the cost to change the tyres (yet) but the ride isn't compromised by having the 19" wheels. My old 330d sport with the 18" MV alloys used to ride more uncomfortably firmer then the 19's on my RS4. Very well damped, although kerbing them is a real issue i do worry about when parking up. I tend to avoid parallel parking for this reason, and seek larger car parks to not risk this.

[simple1]

I never specifified wheels and mine came with 19" twin spoke wheels as per all the other cars I have seen. Spoke to local tyre supplier who quotes £172 for 255/35/19 Conti Sport 3 inc vat and fitting so only £2 more than 255/35/18 MP Sports........ not really an issue of cost then when you are buying a £50k plus car is it........

[Merlot]

Have you decided which seats to have? The buckets are not easy to get in and out of.

[j964]

I'm getting the Reacros as they have full electric adjustment, which makes it much easier for getting my wife in and out.

You'll all be pleased to know, I expect, that I have all but decided to switch back to the standard 19 inch wheels. Having investigated the tyre prices, and considering the ultimate resale value, I accept that cost shouldn't be a factor. It also seems that ride comfort is fine on the 19s and I do really like the design. I guess I'll just have to resign myself to cleaning them after all.

[LSWP]

Wasnt the extra suspension development tuning carried out on the optional 19" wheels specifically to calibrate the Rs4 for the UK raods?

[PetrolDave]

19" is the standard in the UK. I was very pleasantly surprised with the ride quality when I test drove an RS4 - compared to my S4 the ride is much more compliant (it absorbs road bumps better and gives a smoother ride), but when cornering the DRC comes into action and it corners flatter than my S4.

IMHO the RS4 on 19" wheels gives a much more comfortable ride than an S4 on 18" wheels.

BTW I went for the Recaro seats instead of the buckets for the same reason - easier to get in and out (plus I have a slipped disc so the buckets caused me great pain after less than an hour). Comparing the RS4 Recaros to the S4 Recaros there are two main differences I can find - the RS4 ones are trimmed with contrasting edgings (actually the whole interior trim is better than my 2004 S4, and almost identical to my 2003 S4 - doors trimmed with leather to match the seats, full load pack in the boot, etc.) and the headrests on the RS4 are angled further forward.

[Merlot]

I'm getting the Reacros as they have full electric adjustment, which makes it much easier for getting my wife in and out.

You'll all be pleased to know, I expect, that I have all but decided to switch back to the standard 19 inch wheels. Having investigated the tyre prices, and considering the ultimate resale value, I accept that cost shouldn't be a factor. It also seems that ride comfort is fine on the 19s and I do really like the design. I guess I'll just have to resign myself to cleaning them after all.

Well chosen on the seats. The only thing I don't understand is why Audi won't do memory on the recaros.

[mjh123]

I'm not sure the Recaro equipped cars will be as easy to resell as the ones with the buckets. A similar story to the 18" wheels...

Suspect you'll need to drop the price substantially come resale time...

[PetrolDave]

I'm not sure the Recaro equipped cars will be as easy to resell as the ones with the buckets. A similar story to the 18" wheels...

Suspect you'll need to drop the price substantially come resale time...

Have to disagree with you there.

There's already several postings appearing on many Audi forums from people who got caught up in the launch hype of the bucket seats and are now wishing they had chosen the Recaros.

Remember second hand buyers don't have the launch hype effect - they want a car that "works". For them the practicality of the Recaros will score over the discomfort of the bucket seats.

I reckon it's the bucket seats that will have a negative effect on resale value.